The Embraer 190 aircraft made a crash landing 3 km from the city near Kazakhstan’s Aktau Airport early Wednesday morning..
Flight J2-8243, an , was supposed to go from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, but heavy fog in Grozny forced the plane to turn around and go to Aktau instead.
Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer ERJ-190AR (4K-AZ65) passenger plane traveling from Baku to Grozny in Chechnya crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan earlier today.
Though aviation industry, Authorities and locals were left shaken with the crash, fatality, there was some respite, as 32 occupants survived the incident. The aircraft was carrying 62 passengers and five crew members.
The accident occurred during an emergency landing attempt after the plane operating flight, numbered J2-8243, experienced difficulties mid-flight. Initial investigations point to potential mechanical failure, leading to the controllability issues as the cause.
As per the sources and evidences available so far, the pilots attempted to land at Grozny (GRV) two times but failed. Later, during the third attempt, there was an external explosion and a piece of shrapnel penetrated the fuselage.
Suspected Shrapnel also damaged one of the left flap fairings along with aircraft's empennage, horizontal and vertical stabilizers. The aircraft did not crash due to the external explosion, which could be an anti-aircraft fire, but flew over the Caspian Sea and pilots tried their best to control the attitude of the aircraft.
During the last 74 minutes of the flight, the vertical speed oscillated between positive and negative values more than 105 times (values range from -8300 to +8300 feet per minute), which indicated control issues.
Emergency responders quickly attended the crash site, providing medical aid to the injured. Survivors suffered injuries ranging from minor cuts to more serious trauma, with ongoing efforts to transfer them to nearby hospitals for further treatment.
Some of the visuals showed the crash site as alarming, with significant damage to the aircraft’s fuselage and debris scattered across the area. “It’s incredible that so many made it out alive,” shared a local who assisted in the rescue efforts.
As per the Emergencies Ministry of Kazakhstan, the plane attempted an emergency landing three kilometers from Aktau city. Despite multiple attempts to circle the airport and request clearance for landing, the aircraft stalled and plummeted into an open field.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations praised the actions of first responders for minimizing casualties. Rescue and recovery operations continue, with the crash site cordoned off to aid the investigation.
Azerbaijan Airlines, meanwhile, has activated its crisis management plan, collaborating with Kazakh authorities to assist passengers and their families.
“We are deeply relieved that lives were spared, and we fully support ongoing inquiries into this tragedy,” said a spokesperson for the airline.
Azerbaijan Airlines Statement :
"Today is a tragic day for AZAL. We extend our deepest condolences with profound sorrow to the families and loved ones of the passengers and crew members who lost their lives in the crash of the Embraer-190 aircraft near the city of Aktau. We pray for God's mercy upon them. Their pain is our pain. We wish a speedy recovery to the injured."
The Civil Aviation Committee in Kazakhstan has acknowledged the significance of the accident and further announced start of a detailed investigation, that will begin with the retrieval and analysis of the plane’s black box (Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder).
Azerbaijan Airlines has also temporarily suspended the route and grounded similar aircraft as a precautionary measure.
The latest accident has now drawn attention on air safety and security protocols in the region, underscoring the critical need for stringent measures to ensure air safety.
Those on board were mostly Azerbaijani nationals, but there were also some passengers from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
